Requires staff members of public or private schools, agency, or institutions who, in their professional capacity, have reason to believe that child abuse or neglect has occurred, or that there exists a substantial risk that a child may be abused or neglected in the foreseeable future, to immediately report the abuse or neglect directly to the DHS.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The intent of the legislature is to ensure the safety of children through timely reporting of child abuse or neglect.

The purpose of this bill is to strengthen the child abuse reporting statute to ensure that instances of known or suspected child abuse or neglect are reported without delay by requiring the staff at a public or private school, agency, or institution, who observe the abuse or neglect, to report the abuse or neglect directly to the department of human services or the police. This direct reporting will also ensure that the best evidence of abuse or neglect is obtained.

SECTION 2. Section 350-1.1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) Whenever a person designated in subsection (a) is a member of the staff of any public or private school, agency, or institution, that staff member shall immediately report the known or suspected child abuse or neglect directly to the department of human services or to the police and shall immediately notify the person in charge[,] or a designated delegate[, who shall immediately report, or cause reports to be made] of such report in accordance with this chapter."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.